Plant extract highly concentrated in safranal, production method and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

A plant extract obtained from saffron, with a safranal concentration, measured using the HPLC method, of a minimum of 0.2% by weight relative to the total dry matter weight. A method for obtaining the plant extract, as well as compositions comprising the plant extract, and methods of treatment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 371 US national stage application ofPCT/EP2017/069200 filed Jul. 28, 2017 and pending, which claims apriority from French Patent Application FR 1657297 filed Jul. 28, 2016,the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a new extract obtained from a plant-based rawmaterial containing safranal, in particular saffron, the said extracthaving a higher safranal concentration than plant extracts currentlyknown.

The invention also concerns a specific procedure which enables such anextract to be obtained, as well as compositions including this extract,and its uses.

Safranal can be extracted from several plants, such as Crocus sativus,Centaurea sibthorpii, Centaurea consanguinea, Centaurea amanicola,Erodium cicutarium, Chinese green tea, Calycopteris floribunda, Crocusheuffelianus, Sambucus nigra, Gardenia jasminoides, Citrus limon,Cuminum cyminum L., and Achillea distans but is mostly extracted fromCrocus sativus, which is also known as saffron.

BACKGROUND

Saffron is a traditional spice which is typically cultivated in Iran. Ithas several uses, such as the treatment of mood disorders, premenstrualsyndrome, erectile dysfunction, or for skincare, as is notably presentedin Javadi B & al. “A survey on saffron in major islamic traditionalmedicine books” Iranian journal of basic medical sciences 2013; 16(1):1-11. Several clinical studies seeking to demonstrate the effectivenessof saffron have been conducted over past years, particularly in regardto its use for treating depression and anxiety, as is the case in:Akhondzadeh S & al. “Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine inthe treatment of mild to moderate depression: a pilot double-blindrandomized trial” [(ISRCTN45683816]. BMC Complement Altern Med 2004; 4:12, or, more recently, in: Hausenblas H A & al. “Saffron (Crocus sativusL.) and major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomizedclinical trials”. Journal of integrative medicine 2013; 11(6): 377-83.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is composed of several molecules, includingsafranal, a volatile molecule which creates the spice's fragrance andwhich is recognized for its effectiveness in the aforementionedapplications. The extracts used in prior art are mostly standardized at2% safranal using UV spectrometry, in accordance with the standard ISO3632-2:2010 (Spices—Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)—Part 2: Test methods.ISO International standard; 2010: 1-42). This standard describes acomprehensive analysis protocol, which consists of dissolving thesaffron extract in water, stirring it, filtering it, and then taking aspectrophotometric reading at 330 nm. Nevertheless, this method can becriticized as the absence of the use of any solvents and/or specificreagents results in the quantification of molecules other than safranal,and so the reading does not reflect the actual safranal concentration ofthe extract. Effectively, the analysis by HPLC (High Performance LiquidChromatography) of the safranal in extracts, which was used in priorart, reveals actual concentrations between 30 and 1000 times lower thanthose obtained by analysis using UV spectrometry, in accordance withstandard ISO 3632-2, and with significant variability in the correlationof the two methods, as demonstrated by the results presented in Table 1below:

TABLE 1 comparison of the results obtained with two safranal measurementmethods applied to several saffron extracts from prior art (resultsgiven as percentages in weight relative to the total weight of the drymatter of the extract). Safranal Safranal ISO 3632-2:2010 HPLC Saffronextract method method Saffron dry extract - 2.71 0.0650 Natac Saffron ESstigma - 2.12 0.0040 Plantex Saffr′Activ ® - 2.32 0.0380 Green PlantExtract Affron ® - 2.90 0.0190 Pharmactive

In reality, the plant extracts containing safranal, particularly thesaffron extracts, which can be obtained using the procedures of priorart, have very small doses of safranal.

The measurement method is therefore important, as it leads to resultswhich differ from those obtained using the prior measurement method viaspectrometry which was systematically used to measure the safranalconcentration of a product. This prior method, referenced asISO3632-2:2010, overestimates the safranal concentration, asdemonstrated in this application, as well as in the 2017 publication byGarcia-Rodriguez et al., “Comparative evaluation of an ISO 3632 methodand an HPLC-DAD method for safranal quantity determination in saffron”.In this publication, the study was carried out using 390 saffronsamples. The overestimation may be between 20 and 50 times. Hence, anextract with an indicated concentration of X% safranal using thereference measurement method ISO3632-2:2010, contains, in reality, muchless safranal.

SUMMARY

The objective of this invention is to address this issue by proposing asaffron extract with a higher dose of safranal than current extracts.

In particular, the invention concerns a plant extract obtained fromsaffron, with a concentration measured, using the HPLC method, of aminimum of 0.2% safranal in weight relative to the total weight of thedry matter of the extract.

This extract can notably be obtained via a procedure including a thermaltreatment step, particularly a specific procedure which includes theimplementation of the following steps:

-   -   Possible drying of the raw material,    -   Grinding of the dried raw material,    -   Aqueous or hydroalcoholic extraction, or extraction using an        organic solvent,    -   Impregnation of the extract obtained onto a support,    -   Thermal treatment of the extract.

This economical procedure, which is simple to implement, enables asaffron extract to be obtained with a concentration, measured using theHPLC method, of a minimum of 0.2% safranal in weight relative to thetotal weight of the dry matter of the extract.

Advantageously, such an extract contains an actual safranalconcentration which is greater than that of the extracts currently knownand hence offers greater effectiveness, especially for use in combatingdepression, anxiety, mood disorders, erectile dysfunctions andpremenstrual disorders. The invention therefore also concerns saffronextract for these uses, in addition to cosmetic, food, nutritional andmedicinal compositions containing saffron extract.

Other characteristics and benefits will emerge from the detaileddescription of the invention which will follow, with respect to theappended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 : chromatogram of the extract according to the invention fromexample 1, obtained via the UHPLC method,

FIG. 2 : chromatogram of the extract according to the invention fromexample 2, obtained via the UHPLC method.

FIG. 3A: chromatogram of an extract from prior art according to example3A (obtained without thermal treatment) obtained via the UHPLC method,

FIG. 3B: chromatogram of an extract from prior art according to example3B (obtained without thermal treatment) obtained via the UHPLC method,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Therefore, the invention concerns a plant extract obtained from a plant(or plant-based raw material) containing safranal, with a concentration,measured using the HPLC method, of a minimum of 0.2% safranal in weightrelative to the total weight of the dry matter.

The expressions “plant extract obtained from a plant containingsafranal” or “plant extract obtained from a plant-based raw materialcontaining safranal” are understood to refer to at least one molecule ora set of several molecules from either an entire plant or part of aplant containing safranal. This may be from a specific selection ofnative molecules present in the plant or molecules obtained by any typeof transformation of the said native molecules. The raw material used toobtain the extract can consist of either all or part of a plantcontaining safranal. If the plant containing the safranal is saffron,the plant extract according to the invention can in particular beobtained from saffron stigmas and/or petals and/or bulbs.

The extract according to the invention is not the raw material initself. It is not considered to be a plant, part of a plant, a driedplant, a dried part of a plant, a plant sample or a dried plant sample.It is not an essential oil either.

The terms “plant containing safranal” or “raw material containingsafranal” (the terms plant and plant-based raw material can be usedequivalently within the meaning of the invention) are understood torefer to any plant containing safranal, in particular, Crocus sativus,Centaurea sibthorpii, Centaurea consanguinea, Centaurea amanicola,Erodium cicutarium, Chinese green tea, Calycopteris floribunda, Crocusheuffelianus, Sambucus nigra, Gardenia jasminoides, Citrus limon,Cuminum cyminum L., and Achillea distans. Preferentially, the plantcontaining safranal from which the extract according to the invention isobtained is Crocus sativus (saffron).

The extract according to the invention includes at least safranal, andthe safranal is present at a concentration of at least 0.2% in terms ofdry matter weight, measured using the HPLC method (High PerformanceLiquid Chromatography). The measurement method is of the utmostimportance given that with another measurement method, namely with UVspectrometry (standard ISO 3632-2), the result obtained does notcorrespond to the actual safranal concentration given this method's lackof specificity.

The HPLC method for the analysis of molecules is a method known toskilled persons. It enables the precise identification andquantification of individual molecules.

Preferentially, the analysis method used for measuring the moleculescontained in the extract according to the invention, in particularsafranal, is a UHPLC method (Ultra High Performance

Liquid Chromatography). This method also enables greater resolution andseparation of compounds, as well as the detection of several compoundsin the same chromatogram from a single sample.

According to a particularly suitable mode of implementation, the HPLC orUHPLC analysis method includes a prior preparation step for the sample,including the following steps:

-   -   Introduction of the saffron extract to be measured into a        hydroalcoholic solution,    -   Magnetic stirring for at least 1 hour,    -   Ultrasonic bath for at least 5 minutes,    -   Filtration through a membrane, then injection.

The analysis method, after the preparation of the sample, traditionallythen includes an elution step, then a detection step.

Elution is preferentially performed using a binary gradient. Forexample, the first solvent can be an organic solvent and an acid.Preferentially, formic acid in acetonitrile should be used. For example,the second solvent can be an acidified aqueous solvent. Preferentially,formic acid in water should be used.

In addition to the safranal, the extract according to the invention caninclude other molecules, notably crocins and/or flavonoids, derived fromkaempferol and/or derived from picrocrocin, particularly in the case ofsaffron extracts.

In the case whereby crocins are present, they should preferentiallyrepresent at least 1% of the dry matter weight of the extract, measuredusing the HPLC method.

In the case whereby flavonoids derived from kaempferol are present, theyshould preferentially represent at least 500 ppm of the dry matterweight of the extract, measured using the HPLC method.

In the case whereby picrocrocins are present, they should preferentiallyrepresent at least 0.5% of the dry matter weight of the extract,measured using the HPLC method.

Preferentially, the extract according to the invention is impregnatedonto a support. The terms “support” or “bulking agent” within themeaning of the invention are understood to refer to any plant-,mineral-, or chemical-based food substance used as an ingredient or foodadditive which enables the impregnation and dilution of the extract ofthe invention.

The support may be selected from among the following components:maltodextrin, sugar, silica, and acacia gum, preference being given tomaltodextrin.

When the extract is impregnated onto a support, the percentages ofmolecules present in the extract are expressed in terms of the drymatter weight of the extract, including the support. The extractaccording to the invention can be obtained by any means enabling atleast 0.2% safranal to be obtained in terms of the dry matter weight ofthe extract. Preferentially, the extract according to the invention isobtained via a procedure including a thermal treatment step. This stepcan be implemented on the raw material at the beginning, during, or atthe end of the procedure for obtaining the extract.

Thermal treatment, within the meaning of the invention, is understood torefer to heating up to a temperature to above ambient temperature.Preferentially, the thermal treatment step consists of a thermaltreatment carried out for at least 2 hours, preferentially for at least24 hours, at a temperature between 30° C. and 95° C., preferentially ata temperature between 30° C. and 60° C.

Thermal treatment may be carried out using any known means, notably in achamber, in an oven, by cooking, pasteurizing or debacterialization.Preferentially, the thermal treatment is to be carried out in a chamber.

According to a particularly suitable mode of implementation, the plantextract according to the invention is obtained via a procedure includingthe implementation of the following steps, completed using saffron as araw material:

-   -   Possible drying,    -   Grinding, preferentially between 50 and 500 μm,    -   Aqueous or hydroalcoholic extraction, or extraction using an        organic solvent,    -   Impregnation of the extract obtained onto a support,    -   Thermal treatment.

The aqueous or hydroalcoholic extraction steps, or extraction using anorganic solvent and impregnation of the extract obtained onto a support,constitute the known extraction procedure, named Tech'Care Extraction®.

The thermal treatment step can be carried out at any moment during thisprocedure, preferentially at the end of the procedure, on the rawmaterial saffron, and completes the Tech'Care Extraction® procedure.

According to a particularly suitable mode of implementation, the thermaltreatment step in the implementation of this procedure is a thermaltreatment step in a chamber for at least 2 hours, even morepreferentially for at least 24 hours at a temperature between 30° C. and95° C., even more preferentially at a temperature between 30° C. and 60°C.

Grinding can be carried out by any suitable known means, particularly bya granulating mill, a pin mill or a hammer miller, with preference givento a pin mill.

The extraction step can be carried out by any suitable known means.

In the case of aqueous extraction, the ground substance is introducedinto water at a ratio of 50 g/L.

In the case of hydroalcoholic extraction, the solvent can be ethanol,with preference given to ethanol at 60% v/v. The ground substance isintroduced into the hydroalcoholic solution at a ratio of 50 g/L.

In the case of extraction using an organic solvent, the solvent can bemethanol or ethyl acetate, with preference given to methanol at 30% v/v.The ground substance is introduced into the organic solvent at a ratioof 100 g/L.

After extraction, the procedure can also include an acidification step.This step consists of adding acid into the aqueous or hydroalcoholicsolvent. It enables the pH of the extraction solution to be reduced tobetween 3 and 5. It can be carried out in the following conditions:adding citric acid or hydrochloric acid into the hydroalcoholic solventto adjust the pH to 4.

The step of impregnation onto a support consists of adding a bulkingagent into the extraction solution. The support or bulking agent can beselected from among the following components: maltodextrin, sugar,silica, and acacia gum, but maltodextrin is preferred.

After this impregnation step, the procedure can also include an emulsionstep and/or an encapsulation step for the obtained extract. This stepconsists of high-speed stirring of the extraction solution containingthe bulking agent and, possibly, the auxiliary substance. It can becarried out using auxiliary substances such as acacia gum,cyclodextrins, or fatty substances.

The extract according to the invention can be used alone or integratedinto a cosmetic, food, nutritional or medicinal composition, at a ratioof 0.1 to 100% in terms of the dry matter weight of the composition.Preferentially, the extract according to the invention is present in thecomposition in a quantity which enables it to be administered to humansor animals at a minimum of 0.07 mg of extract according to the inventionper kg of body weight per day, even more preferentially between 1.4 and4.2 mg of extract according to the invention per kg of body weight perday.

The invention therefore concerns such a composition, preferentially acomposition which is presented in the form of a capsule, tablet, softcapsule, stick, sachet, prepared dish, oil, lotion, cream or emulsion.

The compositions including an extract according to the invention maycontain other suitable known components, such as excipients, which areselected depending on the form and intended use of the composition, orother active substances or active molecules.

The extract according to the invention and compositions including it maybe used for several applications, particularly for preventing ortreating depression and anxiety, or for preventing or treating mooddisorders (pathological mood disorders), erectile dysfunctions, orpremenstrual disorders.

The invention also concerns the extract for its use:

-   -   in the prevention or treatment of depression in humans or        animals,    -   in the prevention or treatment of anxiety in humans or animals,    -   in the prevention or treatment of mood disorders in humans,    -   in the prevention or treatment of erectile dysfunction in humans        (males),    -   in the prevention or treatment of premenstrual disorders in        humans (females).

Advantageously, due to the high quantity of safranal it contains, whichis greater than that of all existing extracts, the extract according tothis invention offers great effectiveness for these applications.Furthermore, it is important to use an extract rather than a rawmaterial in itself (an entire plant or part of a plant, dried or not),as the extracts according to the invention enable the bioavailability ofactive molecules to be increased as the latter are no longer locked inthe plant matrix of the flower, and are more easily available to theorganism. The presence of the support in the extract also allows forimproved homogeneity of molecules which are of interest for the finishedproduct.

The invention is currently illustrated with examples of extracts andprocedures according to the invention (examples 1 and 2), comparativeexamples of extracts from prior art (examples 3A and 3B) andcompositions.

For all examples, the measurement method for molecules in the extract,and particularly for safranal, is a UHPLC method, with the followingcharacteristics:

1. Sample Preparation

Sample extraction using a hydroalcoholic solution. Magnetic stirring forat least 1 hour, then ultrasonic bath for at least 5 minutes. Filtrationthrough a membrane, then injection.

2. HPLC Elution

Binary gradient:

-   -   Solvent A (formic acid in MeCN)    -   Solvent B (formic acid in water)

3. Detection

Crocins 440 nm Picrocrocin derivatives 250 nm Flavonoids 350 nm Safranal310 nm

4. Standards

Trans-crocin-4-gentiobiose-gentobiose

Trans-crocin 3-gentiobiose-glucose

beta-cyclocitral

Kaempferol glucoside

Safranal

EXAMPLE 1 Extract According to the Invention

A first extract example is an extract obtained via the implementation ofthe procedure, consisting of the implementation of the following steps:

-   -   use of Crocus sativus stigmas,    -   grinding using a pin mill, to 250 μm,    -   hydroalcoholic extraction using ethanol 60% v/v, at a ratio of        50 g of saffron per liter of hydroalcoholic solution,    -   impregnation on maltodextrin, introduced into the hydroalcoholic        solution,    -   thermal treatment in a chamber for 48 hours at 40° C.

The obtained extract is measured for several molecules using the UHPLCmethod described in the foreword of the section pertaining to theexamples.

The chromatogram obtained is presented in FIG. 1 .

The extract is characterized by:

-   -   a safranal concentration of 0.238%,    -   a crocin concentration of 3.96%,    -   a picrocrocin derivative concentration of 1.08%, and    -   a flavonoid concentration of 0.25%.

EXAMPLE 2 Extract According to the Invention

A second extract example is an extract obtained via the implementationof the procedure, consisting of the implementation of the followingsteps:

-   -   use of Crocus Sativus stigmas,    -   grinding using a pin mill, to 250 μm,    -   acidified aqueous extraction using hydrochloric acid at pH 4,    -   impregnation on acacia gum, introduced into the aqueous        solution,    -   thermal treatment in a chamber for 72 hours at 40° C.

The obtained extract is measured for several molecules using the UHPLCmethod described in the foreword of the section pertaining to theexamples.

The chromatogram obtained is presented in FIG. 2 .

The extract is characterized by:

-   -   a safranal concentration of 0.73%,    -   a crocin concentration of 1.0%,    -   a picrocrocin derivative concentration of 2.93%, and    -   a flavonoid concentration of 0.57%.

EXAMPLE 3 Extract According to the Invention

A third example of extract is an extract obtained via the implementationof the procedure, consisting of the implementation of the followingsteps:

-   -   use of Crocus Sativus stigmas,    -   grinding using a pin mill, to 250 μm,    -   first thermal treatment in a chamber for 2 to 6 hours at 105° C.    -   second thermal treatment in a chamber for 2 to 6 hours at 140°        C.    -   hydroalcoholic extraction using ethanol 60% v/v, at a ratio of        50 g of saffron per liter of hydroalcoholic solution,    -   impregnation on maltodextrin, introduced into the hydroalcoholic        solution,    -   freeze-drying of the liquid extract

The extract is characterized by:

-   -   a safranal concentration of 0.39%,    -   a crocin concentration of 2.31%,    -   a picrocrocin derivative concentration of 1.37%, and    -   a flavonoid concentration of 0.24%.

EXAMPLE 3A Extract Obtained by Atomization (Exclusive of the Invention)

A first extract counterexample is an extract obtained via theimplementation of the procedure, consisting of the implementation of thefollowing steps:

-   -   use of Crocus sativus stigmas,    -   grinding using a pin mill, to 250 μm,    -   hydroalcoholic extraction using ethanol 60% v/v, at a ratio of        50 g of saffron per liter of hydroalcoholic solution,    -   impregnation on maltodextrin, introduced into the hydroalcoholic        solution,    -   spray-drying of the liquid extract.

The chromatogram obtained is presented in FIG. 3A.

The obtained extract is characterized by:

-   -   a safranal concentration of 0.028%,    -   a crocin concentration of 4.98%,    -   a picrocrocin derivative concentration of 1.26%, and    -   a flavonoid concentration of 0.24%

EXAMPLE 3B Extract Obtained by Freeze-Drying (Exclusive of theInvention)

A second extract counterexample is an extract obtained via theimplementation of the procedure, consisting of the implementation of thefollowing steps:

-   -   use of Crocus sativus stigmas,    -   grinding using a pin mill, to 250 μm,    -   hydroalcoholic extraction using ethanol 60% v/v, at a ratio of        50 g of saffron per liter of hydroalcoholic solution,    -   impregnation on maltodextrin, introduced into the hydroalcoholic        solution,    -   freeze-drying of the liquid extract.

The chromatogram obtained is presented in FIG. 3B.

The extract is characterized by:

-   -   a safranal concentration of 0.038%,    -   a crocin concentration of 4.40%,    -   a picrocrocin derivative concentration of 1.15%, and    -   a flavonoid concentration of 0.22%.

EXAMPLE 4 Example of Nutritional Composition for Human Use

Example 4 is a 150 mg capsule composed of:

-   -   The extract according to the invention from example 1:15 mg    -   Maltodextrin: 135 mg

The composition is obtained by mixing the components in the traditionalconditions known to the skilled person, the mixture then beingtransferred into a capsule, also according to the traditionalconditions.

The advised dosage is 2 capsules per day.

EXAMPLE 5 Example of Medication for Human Use

Example 5 is a 1500 mg tablet composed of:

-   -   The extract according to the invention from example 2: 20 mg,    -   Sorbitol: 1430 mg,    -   Magnesium stearate: 27 mg,    -   Brilliant blue FCF lacquer E133: 20 mg,    -   Acesulfame K (E950): 1.5 mg,    -   Sodium saccharin (E954): 1.5 mg.

The composition is obtained by mixing the components in the traditionalconditions known to the skilled person, the mixture then beingcompressed, also according to the traditional conditions.

The advised dosage is 1 tablet per day.

EXAMPLE 6 Example of Nutritional Composition for Animal Use

Example 6 is a 300 mg tablet composed of:

-   -   The saffron extract from example 1: 6 mg,    -   Microcrystalline cellulose: 135 mg,    -   Magnesium stearate: 10 mg.

The composition is obtained by mixing the components in the traditionalconditions known to the skilled person, the mixture then beingcompressed, also according to the traditional conditions.

The advised dosage is 1 tablet per day.

EXAMPLE 7 Cosmetic Composition for Topical Application in the Form of aDay Cream

This composition is presented in the form of a cream to be applied toskin. It is composed of:

-   -   The extract according to the invention from example 1: 10 mg,    -   Preservative: 0.5%,    -   Perfumes: 0.6%,    -   Fatty phase+aqueous phase: 97.4%.

The fatty phase is composed of an emulsifier and triglycerides. Theaqueous phase is composed of water combined with pyrrolidone carboxylicacid.

The composition is obtained by adding the saffron extract from example1, while stirring, with the preservatives and perfumes to the aqueousphase, over a period of 10 minutes. The aqueous phase is then itselfadded while stirring to the fatty phase and is mixed for 30 minutes.

the invention claimed is:
 1. A thermally treated, encapsulated plantextract obtained by the method comprising: a) extracting a plant-basedraw material containing safranal, wherein the plant-based raw materialis selected from the group consisting of Crocus sativus, Centaureasibthorpii, Centaurea consanguinea, Centaurea amanicola, Erodiumcicutarium, Chinese green tea, Calycopteris floribunda, Crocusheuffelianus, Sambucus nigra, Gardenia jasminoides, Citrus limon,Cuminum cyminum L., and Achillea distans with an extraction solution atan acidic pH in the range from 3 to 5 to provide a liquid extractcontaining at least 0.2% of safranal by weight as measured by HPLC; b)impregnating the liquid extract onto a bulking agent selected from thegroup consisting of maltodextrin, sugars, silica, and acacia gum to forman encapsulated plant extract; and c) subjecting the encapsulated plantextract to thermal treatment.
 2. The thermally treated, encapsulatedextract of claim 1, wherein the liquid extract further contains aderivative of kaempferol and/or picrocrocin.
 3. The thermally treated,encapsulated plant extract of claim 1, wherein the plant-based rawmaterial is Crocus sativus stigmas, petals and/or bulbs.
 4. Thethermally treated, encapsulated plant extract of claim 1, wherein thethermal treatment step is carried out for at least 2 hours at atemperature between 30° C. and 95° C.
 5. The thermally treated,encapsulated plant extract of claim 4, wherein the thermal treatmentstep is performed at a temperature between 30° C. and 60° C.
 6. Thethermally treated, encapsulated plant extract of claim 4, wherein thethermal treatment step is carried out for a period of at least 24 hours.7. The thermally treated, encapsulated plant extract of claim 4, whereinthe thermal treatment step is carried out in a chamber, oven, bycooking, pasteurization or debacterialization.
 8. A cosmetic, food,nutritional or medicinal composition comprising between 0.1 and 100% byweight of the thermally treated, encapsulated plant extract of claim 1.9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the composition is in the form ofa capsule, tablet, soft capsule, stick, sachet, prepared dish, oil,lotion, cream or emulsion.